Stonehill Announces Organizational Changes In Athletics

Easton, Mass. - Stonehill College President Mark T. Cregan, C.S.C. has announced organizational and leadership changes in the College's department of athletics that became effective on July 1, 2008.

Paula Sullivan, who has served as Director of Athletics for the past 12 years, has been promoted to Assistant Vice President for Athletics. In that role she will oversee both the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Department of Recreational Sports.

"Paula has distinguished herself as a leader at Stonehill," said Cregan. "She cares deeply about our student-athletes and for her, it is about educating young men and women who work hard in the classroom and on the playing field, developing skills that will serve them well in sports and for life."

Sullivan will be responsible for the formulation and execution of strategies to enhance the role of athletics for all Stonehill students. During her tenure as athletics director, Sullivan oversaw the program's growth to perennial power in the Northeast-10, having captured two NCAA Championships in women's lacrosse, an Elite Eight appearance in men's basketball, a Final Four appearance in field hockey and the College's first-ever President's Cup in 2006-07. During the past year, she also served as Interim Commissioner of the Northeast 10 Conference. 

Prior to her appointment as athletics director, Sullivan spent 25 years as the head coach of women's basketball at the College, guiding Stonehill to the national semifinals in 1995, setting a school record for wins (30) along the way. She was named Northeast-10 Coach of the Year five times and retired as the winningest coach in Division II coach in New England.

Replacing Sullivan as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics will be Brendan Sullivan (no relation), who has served as Associate Director of Athletics since 2003. He joined Stonehill in July 2002, beginning first in the Finance Division and then transitioned over to the Athletics. In his previous role, he oversaw the financial matters for the department including budget oversight as well as developing, coordinating and executing all fundraising endeavors.

He also serves as the department's liaison to the College's Human Resources department, having served on the search committee for the hiring of the new football and men's basketball coaches.

A long-time volunteer with the Massachusetts Spina Bifida Association, he is a member of the organization's Board of Directors.

A 2001 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's in business administration, he served as both the football and men's basketball equipment manager as an undergraduate.

"I look forward to working with Brendan and John Leahy, both very talented individuals, as they lead their respective departments into the College's new strategic planning process," said Sullivan.

Under Fr. Cregan's model, Athletics will report to the Student Affairs Division, which is headed by Fr. John Deninng, C.S.C., who is the Vice President for Student Affairs.

I have every confidence in Paula and her team. They will do an outstanding job moving Stonehill athletics to a new level of excellence," said Cregan.